Pienza

Pienza is an Italian town with 2127 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in the Val d' Orcia (Tuscany), located between the towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino.

General

The place is located in the climatic classification of Italian communities in the zone E, 2113 GR / G.

The only district is Monticchiello (500 meters altitude, about 2000 inhabitants).

The neighboring municipalities are Castiglione d' Orcia, Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano, Radicofani, San Giovanni d' Asso, San Quirico d' Orcia, Sarteano, Torrita di Siena, Trequanda.

1996, UNESCO declared the historic center of Pienza a World Heritage Site; 2004 also marked the whole Val d'Orcia was added to the list.

History

Originally called the place Corsignano. He was the birthplace of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini, the scion of a exiled Sienese family and later pope under the name Pius II. As Pontifex Maximus Pius, seeing himself in the tradition of ancient founder of the city began with the expansion of the town to the 'ideal city '. The patch was on a search for his owner Pienza. It is considered a first application of humanist urban planning - a suggestion the recordings of other Italian cities henceforth and eventually spread all over Europe.

The redesign was started by Florentine architect Bernardo Rossellino 1459, and within three years the main buildings were completed. By the death of Pius II in 1464 the overall planning was not fully realized.

Rosselino designed the new town square, the Piazza Comunale and the flanking them four main buildings: the Cathedral and the Town Hall ( Palazzo Pubblico, also called Palazzo Comunale ), and the two palaces vescovile and Piccolomini. The former was the residence of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexander VI. The Palazzo Piccolomini was the residence of Pius II family, a Florentine Palazzo Rucellai -inspired buildings and also the largest and most beautiful place. The new cathedral was consecrated on August 29, 1462 Pius II.

From all sides streets leading to the Piazza Comunale, each location offers varied, harmonious perspectives on the building and opens up vast vistas in the scenery of the surrounding Val d'Orcia. The travertine fountain in the Piazza, with its line-up in front of the Palazzo Piccolomini, the deliberate asymmetry of the square strengthening, bearing the family crest of the Piccolomini and was in the following centuries a model for many Tuscan Fountain.

Attractions

See main article of Santa Maria Assunta ( Pienza)

The Cathedral of Pienza was built by Rosselino between 1459-1462 as a three-aisled hall church with ambulatory. Despite its Renaissance façade, the church is oriented to typical buildings of Gothic architecture north of the Alps, which is to thank the numerous visits by the future Pope Pius II, among others, also in German countries. In the three-nave interior prove clustered columns and Tuscan capitals, such as the translation of a Gothic space concept has succeeded in the formal language of the early Renaissance. The crypt -like baptistry can be found under the apse; in parts it still comes from its original Romanesque predecessor.

Museo della Cattedrale There is one in the cathedral. The Diocesan Museum in the Palazzo vescovile shows both local textile work as well as religious artifacts. Three tapestries with religious representations are to be seen; they are erected in the late 15th century in Flanders and passed through the Piccolomini to Pienza. In the collection of paintings with "Christ on the Cross " (La Croce ) any work of the 7th century to find. In addition, the exhibition features portraits of Pietro Lorenzetti ( Madonna with Child ) and Bartolo di Fredi (Madonna della Misericordia ), all from the 14th century Among the other works of the 14-15. Century stands out especially a Madonna representation which is attributed to Luca Signorelli.

The church of San Francesco, with gabled façade and a Gothic portal, is one of the few buildings that date back to the time of ancient Corsignano. It is built on the foundations of a church of the 8th century. Inside there are frescoes from the 14th century, by Cristofano di Meo di Pero and Bindoccio, artists of the Sienese school, which depict the life of St. Francis. The precious old church inventory - about the painted with tempera painting of cross Segna di Bonaventura - is now housed in the Diocesan Museum.

Furthermore, in Pienza the Ammannati Palace, the Gonzaga palace and the Palazzo del Cardinale Atrebatense worth mentioning, all from the 15th century

Nearby is the Pieve di Corsignano one of the most important Romanesque monuments in the area.

The south west location Terrapille serves photographers from around the world as tuscany - typical postcard. In 1999, she was also one of the locations for the film Gladiator.

Economy

Pienza is the seat of Bottega Verde, the largest cosmetics chain in Italy.

Palazzo Piccolomini

Renaissance facade of the Duomo

Dom and vestibule

View from the Piazza Comunale in the Val d' Orcia